Communication infrastructure for Smart Grid

The role of communication in the electric utility dates back to the conventional telephone and power line carrier communications systems era during which communications system was extensively used for voice and data communi-cation between load despatch centres and generating stations. As the complexity of electric grid increased, the need for monitoring and control of various system parameters increased very much and forced to use the advanced communication systems for various applications. The communication system can be classified into primary and secondary networks depending upon the nature of end devices which needs to be connected to utility master control station/energy management/load despatch centre. This paper discuses in brief both primary and secondary communication systems, contemporary develop-ments in the communication technologies, communication protocols and select evolving standards.